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Abstract The loss of biodiversity in marine populations is one of the consequences of the increased events of extreme environmental conditions in the oceans, which can condition the persistence of populations to future scenarios of climate change. Therefore, it is extremely necessary to explore and monitor the genetic diversity of natural populations. In the Southeast Pacific Ocean (SEPO), specifically on the coast of Chile, the presence of the copepod Acartia tonsa has been indicated solely using morphological evidence, due to the absence of genetic information. In the present work, the genetic diversity, population structure and phylogenetic position within the genus Acartia, of populations identified morphologically as A. tonsa, was evaluated by amplification of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and nuclear marker 18 s. Our results showed that the populations identified as A. tonsa correspond to a new monophyletic group endemic to SEPO (GMYC = 1.00; PTP = 0.95). The populations showed moderate to high genetic diversity with an incipient structuring between populations and biogeographic zones. Our results suggest that despite the homogenizing effect of the Humboldt Current, isolation by distance and contrasting environmental conditions at different geographic scales have an important influence on the genetic diversity of zooplankton in the SEPO region.

Zooplankton diversity in the deep “midnight zone” (>1000 m), where sunlight does not reach, remains largely unknown. Uncovering such diversity has been challenging because of the major difficulties in sampling deep pelagic fauna and identifying many (unknown) species that belong to these complex swimmer assemblages. In this study, we evaluated zooplankton diversity using two taxonomic marker genes: mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) and nuclear 18S ribosomal RNA (18S). We collected samples from plankton net tows, ranging from the surface to a depth of 5000 m above the Atacama Trench in the Southeast Pacific. Our study aimed to assess the zooplankton diversity among layers from the upper 1000 m to the ultra-deep abyssopelagic zone to test the hypothesis of decreasing diversity with depth resulting from limited carbon sources. The results showed unique, highly vertically structured communities within the five depth strata sampled, with maximal species richness observed in the upper bathypelagic layer (1000–2000 m). The high species richness of zooplankton (>750 OTUS) at these depths was higher than that found in the upper 1000 m. The vertical diversity trend exhibited a pattern similar to the well-known vertical pattern described for the benthic system. However, a large part of this diversity was either unknown (>50%) or could not be assigned to any known species in current genetic diversity databases. DNA analysis showed that the Calanoid copepods, mostly represented by Subeucalanus monachus, the Euphausiacea, Euphausia mucronata, and the halocypridade, Paraconchoecia dasyophthalma, dominated the community. Water column temperature, dissolved oxygen, particulate carbon, and nitrogen appeared to be related to the observed vertical diversity pattern. Our findings revealed rich and little-known zooplankton diversity in the deep sea, emphasizing the importance of further exploration of this ecosystem to conserve and protect its unique biota.

Abstract Predicting species distribution in the ocean has become a crucial task to assess marine ecosystem responses to ongoing climate change. In the Humboldt Current System (HCS), the endemic copepod Calanus chilensis is one of the key species bioindicator of productivity and water masses. Here we modeled the geographic distribution of Calanus chilensis for two bathymetric ranges, 0–200 and 200–400 m. For the 0–200 m layer, we used the Bayesian Additive Regression Trees (BART) method, whereas, for the 200–400 m layer, we used the Ensembles of Small Models (ESMs) method and then projected the models into two future scenarios to assess changes in geographic distribution patterns. The models were evaluated using the multi-metric approach. We identified that chlorophyll-a (0.34), Mixed Layer Depth (0.302) and salinity (0.36) explained the distribution of C. chilensis. The geographic prediction of the BART model revealed a continuous distribution from Ecuador to the southernmost area of South America for the 0–200 m depth range, whereas the ESM model indicated a discontinuous distribution with greater suitability for the coast of Chile for the 200–400 m depth range. A reduction of the distribution range of C. chilensis is projected in the future. Our study suggests that the distribution of C. chilensis is conditioned by productivity and mesoscale processes, with both processes closely related to upwelling intensity. These models serve as a tool for proposing indicators of changes in the ocean. We further propose that the species C. chilensis is a high productivity and low salinity indicator at the HCS. We recommend further examining multiple spatial and temporal scales for stronger inference.

Currently, 24 species of Encotyllabe Diesing, 1850 (Monogenea: Capsalidae), are recorded as parasites on teleost fishes, but the validity of many species has been questioned due to deficient or incomplete descriptions. Almost all species in the genus have been described from one host species or closely related host species, suggesting host specificity, but some species, specifically Encotyllabe spari Yamaguti, 1934, have been reported from at least 19 species belonging to nine families in two orders (Perciformes and Scorpaeniformes) from Japan, Arabian Gulf and Brazil. Concerning Brazilian records of Encotyllabe spari and Encotyllabe cf. spari, seven species belonging to four families and two orders have been reported as hosts for this species. The aim of this study was to describe two new species of Encotyllabe from Brazil, previously considered as E. spari. Morphological and morphometric (multivariate analysis of proportional measurements standardized by total length) and molecular analysis (LSU rRNA and cox1 gene) were performed in order to identify the collected monogeneans. The description of two new species, namely Encotyllabe bifurcatum n. sp. and Encotyllabe parvum n. sp., parasitizing Pagrus pagrus and Orthopristis ruber, respectively, is the result of the three approaches. The main morphological differences from the most related species include a combination of body size, shape of the male copulatory organ, size and position of the testes. Our results suggest host specificity for members of Encotyllabe and specimens previously recorded as E. spari, other than those from the original description, must be revisited.

Distribution of blood fluke Aporocotyle spp. parasitizing Merluccius species from the coasts of South America (Peru, Chile and Argentina) constitutes an excellent opportunity to evaluate the geographical amplitude in which a parasite can exploit the same host species. Phylogenetic analyses (partial sequences of SSU rDNA, LSU rDNa, and cox1 gene) were performed to characterize the genetic lineage of Aporocotyle species described from South American Hake: Merluccius australis, M. gayi, and M. hubbsi. The Phylogenetic analyses (SSUrDNA and LSUrDNA) revealed an absence of genetic variability in Aporocotyle obtained over a gradient of 6800 km, covering two oceans and three closely related hosts. Consequently, the species infecting Merluccius spp. in South America is Aporocotyle argentinensis Smith 1969, by priority law. Phylogeographic analysis suggests a pattern of spatial differentiation and genetic population structure associated with the geographical distribution of the host’s species. A specimen with a haplotype found in M. gayi was collected from M. australis from Puerto Montt, and three worms (from Coquimbo, Constitución and Talcahuano, host M. gayi) harbored a haplotype found in M. australis + M. hubbsi, suggesting that the gene flow between different hosts and geographical distributions occurs when the distribution of adequate hosts overlaps, avoiding speciation in blood flukes from South American hakes.

The subtropical gyres occupy approximately 40% of the surface of the Earth and are widely recognized as oligotrophic zones. Among them, the South Pacific subtropical gyre (SPSG) shows the lowest chlorophyll-a levels (0.02–0.04 μgL–1), the deepest nutricline (>200 m) and euphotic zone (∼160 m), and the lowest rates of nitrogen fixation. The zooplankton community is poorly known in the SPSG. We report a study focused on the composition and distribution of pelagic copepods within the gyre so as to uncover the diversity and habitat conditions of this special community. Therefore, during the austral spring of 2015, an oceanographic cruise was conducted across the eastern side of the SPSG. Physical and chemical variables were measured in the upper 1000 m, while zooplankton samples were collected by means of vertically stratified hauls using a multiple net sampler for five layers (0–800 m). Satellite data were also used to assess near-surface phytoplankton biomass (Chl-a) and physical-dynamics conditions during the cruise, and 121 species of copepods were identified, which belonged to five taxonomic orders, 24 families, and 50 genera. Calanoida and Cyclopoida were the most frequent orders, containing 57% and 38% of species, respectively, whereas Harpacticoida and Mormonilloida contained 2% of species each, and Siphonostomatoida contained 1% of species. The vertical distribution of copepods revealed an ecological zonation linked to a strongly stratified water column, such that three different vertical habitats were defined: shallow (0–200 m), intermediate (200–400 m), and deep (400–800 m). Both the abundance and diversity of copepods were greater in the shallow habitat and were strongly associated with water temperature, whereas copepods in the subsurface layers subsisted with relatively low oxygen waters (2–3 mL O2 L–1) and presumably originated at the Chilean upwelling zone, being transported offshore by mesoscale eddies. Furthermore, the analysis of species composition revealed a marked dominance of small-sized copepods, which may play a key role in nutrient recycling under an oligotrophic condition, as inferred from their mostly omnivorous feeding behavior. Our findings also suggested a potentially high endemism within the gyre, although basin-scale circulation and mesoscale eddies, traveling from the coastal upwelling zone and transporting plankton, can also influence the epipelagic fauna.

Understanding the mechanisms maintaining the biodiversity of plankton communities in marine ecosystems subject to a strongly variable ocean has become a critical issue for modern oceanography. Here, we used data on distribution of calanoid copepods in the upper layer of the ocean (0–500 m), a widely distributed taxonomic group in the pelagic realm, to assess the effects of changing oceanographic conditions on their diversity patterns and family and species richness. Copepods abundance and occurrence were evaluated from 2002 to 2015 covering the region extended between the coastal upwelling zone (CUP-Z) and the offshore region of Chile at subtropical and temperate areas. We used spatial analyses of community structure descriptors, such as abundance and diversity (family and species richness), multivariate analysis and General Additive Models (GAMS) in order to study the effect of surface temperature and its gradients, mixed layer depth, salinity and Chlorophyll-a on copepod diversity. Seventeen families were identified comprising 151 species distributed in 3 predefined zones in the onshore-offshore gradient covering the coastal upwelling, the coastal transition and the oligotrophic zones, whereas over the alongshore gradient, same families were majorly linked to the northern and southern portions of the sampled area (20–40°S). Families and species were significantly structured over the zonal gradient, revealing the dominant habitat for each of the families. Spatial patterns revealed the presence of transitional zones comprised by mixed taxa. Over the alongshore gradient this transition zone was linked to the subtropical convergence (30°S). The spatial variation of sea surface temperature (SST) revealed strong environmental zonation of temperature gradients across onshore-offshore and alongshore dimensions. Mean SST combined with mean mixed layer depth explained about 40% and about 29% of variation in family and species richness, respectively over the onshore-offshore axis. We thus conclude that the environmental zonation imposed by SST and its spatial gradients, considered as ecological barriers, is the key driver for maintaining diversity of copepods in the southeast Pacific.

Biochemical conditions and taxonomic composition of size-fractioned mesozoo-plankton were studied after a cruise conducted in September 2015 between the Chilean coast (70°W) and Easter Island (110°W) within the central south Pacific gyre. Taxonomy was assessed with an automated method based on image analysis and biochemical conditions assessed by analyses of C and N contents and stable isotope composition. Based on surface Chlorophyll-a levels, four regions were distinguished across the zonal gradient: eutrophic (Chilean upwelling zone), mesotrophic (Coastal Transition Zone), oligotrophic (open ocean water) and ultraoligotrophic (central south Pacific gyre). The zones had marked differences in temperature, oxygen, salinity and Chlorophyll-a, and they also exhibited significant differences in zooplankton composition, C/N ratios and δ13C and δ15N for all size fractions of zooplankton. Variability in the sources of C and N, linked to biogeochemical processes, such as new production and denitrification in the upwelling zone, potential diazotrophy, highly regenerated C and N and extreme oligotrophy (N-deficiency) in oceanic areas, are suggested as the key drivers of these differences. Our findings also suggest a strong coupling between taxonomic and size zooplankton-diversity and the sources of nutrients that fuel phytoplankton, the major food source for zooplankton. Although multiple factors and processes can modulate C and N and their isotopes composition of zooplankton biomass, our study shows that changes in community structure are linked to different biogeochemical regions across the zonal gradient, providing the basis for ecological zonation associated with nutrient utilization at lower trophic levels.

Climate change models predict an increase in aridity, especially in the regions under Mediterranean-type climates such as the Mediterranean Basin. However, there is a lack of ecophysiological studies supporting the selection of the more drought-adapted ecotypes for reforestation programs. In this study, we analyzed the anatomical and functional adaptations of 18-month-old seedlings to drought on 16 Quercus suber L. populations from the southeastern rear edge of the species distribution in northern Tunisia growing in a common garden, in order to identify the most appropriate material to use in reforestations. The results evidenced that populations from more xeric habitats displayed the highest leaf dry mass per area (LMA) and lowest leaf area (LA) values, together with the largest increase in the bulk modulus of elasticity (Δε) in response to drought (i.e., elastic adjustment). On the other hand, some populations with intermediate values of aridity, LMA and LA displayed the sharpest increase in proline concentration (ΔPro), with a concomitant increase in osmotic potential at full turgor (Δπo) (i.e., osmotic adjustment). Therefore, two different strategies seem to drive the within-species variation of the studied Q. suber populations in response to water scarcity: (i) a water saver strategy for improving water stress tolerance through the maximization of the elastic adjustment; and (ii) a water spender strategy for maintaining water absorption and photosynthetic activity under moderate water stress through the maximization of the osmotic adjustment. We concluded that the higher elastic adjustment, together with reduced LA and increased LMA, implied a better performance under drought stress in the populations of Q. suber from more xeric habitats, which can be considered the most drought-adapted ecotypes and, consequently, the most appropriate for reforestation programs under an eventual increase in aridity.

The dimensions and weight of machines, structures, and components that need to be transported safely by road are growing constantly. One of the safest and most widely used transport systems on the road today due to their versatility and configuration are modular trailers. These trailers have hydraulic pendulum axles that are that are attached in pairs to the rigid platform above. In turn, these modular trailers are subject to limitations on the load that each axle carries, the tipping angle, and the oil pressure of the suspension system in order to guarantee safe transport by road. Optimizing the configuration of these modular trailers accurately and safely is a complex task. Factors to be considered include the load’s characteristics, the trailer’s mechanical properties, and road route conditions including the road’s slope and camber, precipitation and direction, and force of the wind. This paper presents a theoretical model that can be used for the optimal configuration of hydraulic cylinder suspension of special transport by road using modular trailers. It considers the previously mentioned factors and guarantees the safe stability of road transport. The proposed model was validated experimentally by placing a nacelle wind turbine at different points within a modular trailer. The weight of the wind turbine was 42,500 kg and its dimensions were 5133 × 2650 × 2975 mm. Once the proposed model was validated, an optimization algorithm was employed to find the optimal center of gravity for load, number of trailers, number of axles, oil pressures, and hydraulic configuration. The optimization algorithm was based on the iterative and automatic testing of the proposed model for different positions on the trailer and different hydraulic configurations. The optimization algorithm was tested with a cylindrical tank that weighed 108,500 kg and had dimensions of 19,500 × 3200 × 2500 mm. The results showed that the proposed model and optimization algorithm could safely optimize the configuration of the hydraulic suspension of modular trailers in special road transport, increase the accuracy and reliability of the calculation of the load configuration, save time, simplify the calculation process, and be easily implemented.

A method to find the optimum process parameters for manufacturing nickel-based superalloy Inconel 738LC by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) technology is presented. This material is known to form cracks during its processing by LPBF technology; thus, process parameters have to be optimized to get a high quality product. In this work, the objective of the optimization was to obtain samples with fewer pores and cracks. A design of experiments (DoE) technique was implemented to define the reduced set of samples. Each sample was manufactured by LPBF with a specific combination of laser power, laser scan speed, hatch distance and scan strategy parameters. Using the porosity and crack density results obtained from the DoE samples, quadratic models were fitted, which allowed identifying the optimal working point by applying the response surface method (RSM). Finally, five samples with the predicted optimal processing parameters were fabricated. The examination of these samples showed that it was possible to manufacture IN738LC samples free of cracks and with a porosity percentage below 0.1%. Therefore, it was demonstrated that RSM is suitable for obtaining optimum process parameters for IN738LC alloy manufacturing by LPBF technology.

Pollution from industrial wastewater has the greatest impact on the environment due to the wide variety of wastes and materials that water can contain. These include heavy metals. Some of the technologies that are used to remove heavy metals from industrial effluents are inadequate, because they cannot reduce their concentration of the former to below the discharge limits. Biosorption technology has demonstrated its potential in recent years as an alternative for this type of application. This paper examines the biosorption process for the removal of nickel ions that are present in wastewater using olive stone waste as the biosorbent. Kinetic studies were conducted to investigate the biosorbent dosage, pH of the solution, and stirring speed. These are input variables that are frequently used to determine the efficiency of the adsorption process. This paper describes an effort to identify regression models, in which the biosorption process variables are related to the process output (i.e., the removal efficiency). It uses the Response Surface Method (RSM) and it is based on Box Benken Design experiments (BBD), in which olive stones serves as the biosorbent. Several scenarios of biosorption were proposed and demonstrated by use of the Multi-Response Surface (MRS) and desirability functions. The optimum conditions that were necessary to remove nickel when the dosage of biosorbent was the minimum (0.553 g/L) were determined to be a stirring speed of 199.234 rpm and a pH of 6.369. The maximum removal of nickel under optimized conditions was 61.73%. Therefore, the olive stone waste that was investigated has the potential to provide an inexpensive biosorbent material for use in recovering the water that the nickel has contaminated. The experimental results agree closely with what the regression models have provided. This confirms the use of MRS since this technique and enables satisfactory predictions with use of the least possible amount of experimental data.

Copepods are important suppliers of bioreactive compounds for marine bacteria through fecal pellet production, sloppy feeding, and the excretion of dissolved compounds. However, the interaction between copepods and bacteria in the marine environment is poorly understood. We determined the nitrogen and phosphorus compounds excreted by copepods fed with two natural size-fractionated diets (

Recent field and experimental evidence collected in the southern upwelling region off Concepción (36°5'S, 73°3'W) showed an abrupt reduction (

The experimental stress-strain curves from the standardized tests of Tensile, Plane Stress, Compression, Volumetric Compression, and Shear, are normally used to obtain the invariant λi and constants of material Ci that will define the behavior elastomers. Obtaining these experimental curves requires the use of expensive and complex experimental equipment. For years, a direct method called model updating, which is based on the combination of parameterized finite element (FE) models and experimental force-displacement curves, which are simpler and more economical than stress-strain curves, has been used to obtain the Ci constants. Model updating has the disadvantage of requiring a high computational cost when it is used without the support of any known optimization method or when the number of standardized tests and required Ci constants is high. This paper proposes a methodology that combines the model updating method, the mentioned standardized tests and the multi-response surface method (MRS) with desirability functions to automatically determine the most appropriate Ci constants for modeling the behavior of a group of elastomers. For each standardized test, quadratic regression models were generated for modeling the error functions (ER), which represent the distance between the force-displacement curves that were obtained experimentally and those that were obtained by means of the parameterized FE models. The process of adjusting each Ci constant was carried out with desirability functions, considering the same value of importance for all of the standardized tests. As a practical example, the proposed methodology was validated with the following elastomers: nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) and polyurethane (PUR). Mooney–Rivlin, Ogden, Arruda–Boyce and Gent were considered as the hyper-elastic models for modeling the mechanical behavior of the mentioned elastomers. The validation results, after the Ci parameters were adjusted, showed that the Mooney–Rivlin model was the hyper-elastic model that has the least error of all materials studied (MAEnorm = 0.054 for NBR, MAEnorm = 0.127 for NBR, MAEnorm = 0.116 for EVA and MAEnorm = 0.061 for NBR). The small error obtained in the adjustment of the Ci constants, as well as the computational cost of new materials, suggests that the methodology that this paper proposes could be a simpler and more economical alternative to use to obtain the optimal Ci constants of any type of elastomer than other more sophisticated methods.

The clarification process removes colloidal particles that are suspended in waste water. The efficiency of this process is influenced by a series of inputs or parameters of the coagulation process, of which the most commonly used are initial turbidity, natural coagulant dosage, temperature, mixing speed and mixing time. The estimation of the natural coagulant dosage that is required to effectively remove these total suspended solids is usually determined by a jar test. This test seeks to achieve the highest efficiency of removal of the total suspended solids while reducing the final turbidity of waste water. This is often configured in iterative fashion, and requires significant experimentation and coagulant. This paper seeks to identify regression models that relate the clarification process parameters to the process outputs (final turbidity and total suspend solid) by the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) based on experiments of Central Composite Design (CCD) of experiments that involve three emerging natural coagulants. Several clarification process scenarios also were proposed and demonstrated using the Multi-Response Surface (MRS) with desirability functions. The experimental results were found to be in close agreement to what are provided by the regression models. This validates the use of the MRS-based methodology to achieve satisfactory predictions after minimal experimentation.

Los estudios de comunidades de zooplancton son de gran importancia para la biología, ecología y conservación del ecosistema marino. Sin embargo, estas investigaciones implican un proceso de alto costo en términos de tiempo y esfuerzo, requiriendo personal entrenado para la identificación, conteo y medición de numerosos grupos taxonómicos, así como para la estimación de biomasa. Actualmente, existe un creciente interés por la implementación de nuevas técnicas que permitan automatizar los análisis, incorporando tecnología informática aplicada al examen automático de imágenes digitalizadas. En este trabajo se revisa el estado del conocimiento de algunas metodologías, basadas en el estudio de imágenes digitalizadas de zooplancton. Se presenta una descripción general de los métodos conocidos, tales como ZooScan-ZooProcess y Zoolmage, se analizan sus resultados para la identificación de distintos zooplancteres, se comparan con el método tradicional y se hacen propuestas para mejorar su aplicación. Adicionalmente, se resumen las experiencias con estos sistemas en el análisis de patrones de variabilidad espacial y temporal de la comunidad zooplanctónica, basados en el espectro de tamaño y pruebas para la estimación de biomasa de zooplancton. Finalmente, se elabora un listado de capacidades y limitaciones registradas en la bibliografía reciente, y se discute sobre las perspectivas de desarrollo y aplicación que ofrece esta metodología para la comunidad científica en Latinoamérica.

To ensure realistic results when modeling welded joints using the finite element method (FEM), it is essential to appropriately characterize the thermo-mechanical behavior of the elastic-plastic Finite Element (FE) models. This task is complex. Any small differences between the actual welded joints and the welded joints based on FEM can be amplified enormously in the presence of nonlinearities. Due to the intense concentration of heat on a small area to create such joints, the regions near the weld line undergo severe thermal cycles. These generate significant angular distortion due mainly to the residual stresses. This paper proposes a method to determine the parameters that are most appropriate for modeling the Butt joint single V-groove welded joint FE models’ thermo-mechanical behavior that were created by the one-pass Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW). The method is based on experimental data, as well as genetic algorithms (GA) with multi-objective functions. As a practical example, the proposed methodology is validated with three different welded joints specimens that are manufactured by different voltages and currents (26 volts and 140 amps, 28 volts and 210 amps, and 35 volts and 260 amps). The electrode orientation, shielding gas flow rate, distance between nozzle and plate, and welding speed were considered to be constant for all of the specimens that were studied, and their values were 80°, 20.0 L/min, 4.0 mm, and 6 mm/s, respectively. The base material was EN 235JR low carbon steel, whereas the weld bead was ER70S-6 for the three specimens that were welded. An agreement between the temperature field and the angular distortion that was obtained by the adjusted FE models and those that were obtained experimentally demonstrates that the proposed methodology may be valid for automatically determining the most appropriate parameters.

The biological diversity of the Chilean marine ecosystem (CME) has recently become an issue of interest to Chilean scientists and authorities concerned about the impact of human activities and ongoing climate change on the structure, functioning, and sustainable use of this large marine region, recognized as one of the most productive ecosystems of the world`s is oceans. In this paper, the available information is examined in order to describe the major environmental characteristics of the CME and its associated flora and fauna, both in the benthic and pelagic systems, with the main goal of identifying environmental discontinuities and boundaries which may serve to define biogeographical units and characterize their biodiversity patterns. Physical and chemical processes are also described. In the pelagic system, three major regions may be identified: (1) the Northern Upwelling Region (18º-30º S), (2) the Central/Southern Upwelling Region (30º-42º S), and (3) the Austral Fjords Region (42º_55ºS). These could be defined as biogeographical units, though biodiversity patterns may still require further analyses. For the benthic system, two major provinces are distinguished: the Peru-Chile province (from Paita in Peru to Valparaíso in Chile) and the Magellanic province (Chiloé Island to Cape Horn). A clear transition zone at about 30ºS has also been described. The limits of these biogeographical regions, however, are not fixed and may vary seasonally and interannually. Diversity patterns, as well as dominant and key species inhabiting these biogeographic compartments, are described on the basis of the available data. The studies now required to obtain better information to describe diversity and to identify the underlying processes are stressed, as well as the needs for initiating large scale and long-term programs for monitoring species and processes in the CME that may allow future analyses of diversity patterns along the Chilean coast for conservation purposes.La diversidad biológica del ecosistema marino de Chile (CME) es un tema de alto interés para los científicos y autoridades de Chile, dada la actual preocupación por el impacto que las actividades humanas y los cambios climáticos pudieran tener sobre la estructura, funcionamiento y sustentabilidad de la productividad de esta gran región marina, reconocida como una de las más productivas del océano mundial. En el presente trabajo hemos examinado la información disponible con el objeto de describir las características ambientales más importantes del CME, así como su flora y fauna, tanto en el sistema bentónico como pelágico, con una meta esencial dirigida a la identificación de discontinuidades y barreras ambientales, las cuales pueden servir para definir unidades biogeográficas, y así caracterizar patrones de biodiversidad. Los principales procesos físicos y químicos también son descritos. En el sistema pelágico identificamos tres regiones mayores: (1) La región norte de surgencia (18º-30º S), (2) La región centro/sur de surgencia (30º-42º S), y (3) La región austral de fiordos (42º_55ºS). Estas regiones podrían ser definidas como unidades biogeográficas, aunque sus patrones de biodiversidad pueden aún necesitar análisis adicionales. Para el sistema bentónico dos provincias mayores son distinguibles: la provincia Perú-Chile (desde Paita en Perú a Valparaíso en Chile), y la provincia Magallánica (Isla de Chiloé a Cabo de Hornos). Una clara zona de transición alrededor de los 30º S también ha descrito. Los límites de estas regiones biogeográficas no son sin embargo fijos, y pueden variar estacionalmente y entre años. Los patrones de diversidad, así como las especies dominantes y claves que habitan estos compartimentos biogeográficos son descritos sobre la base de datos disponibles. Los estudios necesarios para obtener información más robusta para describir la diversidad y los procesos que la sustentan son enfatizados, así como la necesidad de iniciar programas de monitoreo y procesos en el CME de gran escala y largo término, que puedan permitir futuros análisis de patrones de biodiversidad a lo largo de la costa chilena para propósitos de conservación

The kinematic behavior of models that are based on the finite element method (FEM) for modeling the human body depends greatly on an accurate estimate of the parameters that define such models. This task is complex, and any small difference between the actual biomaterial model and the simulation model based on FEM can be amplified enormously in the presence of nonlinearities. The current paper attempts to demonstrate how a combination of the FEM and the MRS methods with desirability functions can be used to obtain the material parameters that are most appropriate for use in defining the behavior of Finite Element (FE) models of the healthy human lumbar intervertebral disc (IVD). The FE model parameters were adjusted on the basis of experimental data from selected standard tests (compression, flexion, extension, shear, lateral bending, and torsion) and were developed as follows: First, three-dimensional parameterized FE models were generated on the basis of the mentioned standard tests. Then, 11 parameters were selected to define the proposed parameterized FE models. For each of the standard tests, regression models were generated using MRS to model the six stiffness and nine bulges of the healthy IVD models that were created by changing the parameters of the FE models. The optimal combination of the 11 parameters was based on three different adjustment criteria. The latter, in turn, were based on the combination of stiffness and bulges that were obtained from the standard test FE simulations. The first adjustment criteria considered stiffness and bulges to be equally important in the adjustment of FE model parameters. The second adjustment criteria considered stiffness as most important, whereas the third considered the bulges to be most important. The proposed adjustment methods were applied to a medium-sized human IVD that corresponded to the L3–L4 lumbar level with standard dimensions of width = 50 mm, depth = 35 mm, and height = 10 mm. Agreement between the kinematic behavior that was obtained with the optimized parameters and that obtained from the literature demonstrated that the proposed method is a powerful tool with which to adjust healthy IVD FE models when there are many parameters, stiffnesses, and bulges to which the models must adjust.

The exhaustion of natural resources has increased petroleum prices and the environmental impact of oil has stimulated the search for an alternative source of energy such as biodiesel. Waste cooking oil is a potential replacement for vegetable oils in the production of biodiesel. Biodiesel is synthesized by direct transesterification of vegetable oils, which is controlled by several inputs or process variables, including the dosage of catalyst, process temperature, mixing speed, mixing time, humidity and impurities of waste cooking oil that was studied in this case. Yield, turbidity, density, viscosity and higher heating value are considered as outputs. This paper used multi-response surface methodology (MRS) with desirability functions to find the best combination of input variables used in the transesterification reactions to improve the production of biodiesel. In this case, several biodiesel optimization scenarios have been proposed. They are based on a desire to improve the biodiesel yield and the higher heating value, while decreasing the viscosity, density and turbidity. The results demonstrated that, although waste cooking oil was collected from various sources, the dosage of catalyst is one of the most important variables in the yield of biodiesel production, whereas the viscosity obtained was similar in all samples of the biodiesel that was studied.

Argopecten purpuratus es uno de los recursos marinos de mayor importancia comercial en Chile. Una de las etapas críticas en el cultivo de esta especie, es el traspaso de las post-larvas al medio natural, ya que durante este período se produce un significativo descenso en el número de post-larvas. Los factores que provocan estas bajas sobrevivencias pueden ser diversos, pero aún son desconocidos. En el presente estudio se evaluó la incidencia en la sobrevivencia y crecimiento de las variables origen de las larvas, distribución de los colectores en diferentes estaciones de Bahía Inglesa, III región (27° 03' 24" S, 70° 51' 30" O) y los cambios en la bacterioflora asociadas a las post-larvas. Los organismos utilizados en el estudio fueron obtenidas desde los "hatcheries" de Cultivos Marinos Internacionales (III región) y Cultivos Guayacán (IV región). Los resultados del estudio indican claramente que la ubicación y origen de las post-larvas en la bahía incide en la sobrevivencia de éstas. Sin embargo, el crecimiento no es afectado por las variables estudiadas (P < 0,05). Desde un punto de vista microbiológico se observa que Vibrio spp. llega a ser un componente predominante en la microflora de ambas poblaciones larvales alcanzando porcentajes de 53,36 %. El análisis de componentes principales revela que no hay diferencias entre los Vibrio spp. cultivables de ambos cultivos. No obstante, la microflora residente de las larvas de Guayacánes más estable a los incrementos de bacterias del medio circundanteArgopecten purpuratus is one of the most commercially important marine resources in Chile. One of the most critical steps in the massive culture of this species is the transference of postlarvae from hatchery production to the sea where significant mortality regularly occurs. The factors behind this low survival rate are probably diverse, and are as yet unknown. In the present study, postlarval survival and growth was observed as a function of origin of postlarvae, distribution of postlarvae in the bay, and microbial loading of the postlarvae. Survival rates were measured for different sites in Bahia Inglesa, Chile (27° 03' 24" S, 70° 51' 30" W) as well as changes in the bacterioflora of the postlarvae. Postlarvae utilized in the study were obtained from Cultivos Marinos Internacionales (III Región) and Cultivos Guayacan (IV Región). Results of the study clearly indicated that survival in culture of the postlarvae was related to their location in the bay and the origin of the postlarvae. However, the growth of the post-larvae is not affected (P < 0.05). Microbiologically, it was observed that Vibrio spp. were the bacterial component most represented among strains isolated from the postlarvae (53.36 %) from both populations studied. Principal component analysis revealed no differences between cultivable vibrios from both cultures. However, microflora from the Guayacan group were less susceptible to increases in bacteria originating in their surrounding environment

Zooplankton in the coastal upwelling zone off the eastern South Pacific must cope with a shallow oxygen minimum zone. In this work, I summarize available information on the zooplankton species that interact with the OMZ in the upwelling region off northern Chile. Data are available from the MinOx cruise carried out in March 2000 and the ZOMEI cruise perfomed in October 2005, both onboard the R/V Vidal Gormaz of the Chilean navy. Nineteen species of copepods and 10 of euphausiids were analyzed in their vertical distribution and migrating behavior. Several abundante species appeared constrained by the OMZ and restricted to the upper 50m layer. However, other abundant species inhabit temporarily or permanently the OMZ contributing substantially to the vertical flux of C produced in the photic zone through active vertical migration. Population dynamics and life cycle strategies, as well as metabolic adaptations of the species, may not only modulate their contributions to vertical fluxes of C, but also to the maintenance and persistence of the oxygen-depleted water mass.El zooplancton de la zona de surgencia costera en el Pacífico Sur Oriental se encuentra afecto a una zona de mínimo de oxígeno muy somera (ZMO). En el presente trabajo, se resume la información disponible de las especies del zooplancton que interactuan con la ZMO en la región de surgencia del norte de Chile. Los datos provienen desde los cruceros MinOx y ZOMEI realizados en marzo del 2000 y octubre del 2005, respectivamente a bordo del R/V Vidal Gormáz de la Armada de Chile. Cerca de 19 especies de copépodos y 10 de eufáusidos se analizaron en su distribución vertical y conducta migratoria. Varias especies abundantes se encuentran restringidas por la ZMO a la capa superior de 50 m. Sin embargo, otras especies abundantes habitan temporal o permanentemente la ZOM, contribuyendo sustancialmente al flujo vertical de C producido en la zona fótica a través de la migración vertical activa. La dinámica poblacional y las estrategias de los ciclos de vida, así como las adaptaciones metabólicas de las distintas especies, pueden no solo modular la contribución de ellas a los flujos verticales de C, sino que además a la mantención y persistencia de la masa de agua deficiente en oxígeno.

Hybrid Laminar Flow Control (HLFC) is a promising technology for reducing aircraft drag and, therefore, emissions and fuel consumption. The integration of HLFC systems within the small space of the wing leading edge, together with de-icing and high lift systems, is one of the main challenges of this technology. This challenge can be tackled by using microholes along the outer skin panels to control suction without the need for an internal chamber. However, microperforations modify the mechanical properties of titanium sheets, which bring new challenges in terms of wing manufacturability. These modified properties create uncertainty that must be investigated. The present paper studies the mechanical properties of micro-drilled titanium grade 2 sheets and their modeling using the Finite Element Method (FEM). First, an experimental campaign consisting of tensile and Nakajima tests is conducted. Then, an FEM model is developed to understand the role of the anisotropy in sheet formability. The anisotropy ratios are found by combination of Design of Experiments (DoE) and the Response Surface Method (RSM); these ratios are as follows: 1.050, 1.320, and 0.975 in the directions Y, Z, and XY, respectively. Some mechanical properties are affected by the presence of microholes, especially the elongation and formability that are significantly reduced. The reduction in elongation depends on the orientation: 20% in longitudinal, 17% in diagonal, and 31% in transversal.

Gradients of latitudinal diversity are one of the biogeographic features calling the most attention in ecology and macroecology. However, in pelagic communities of the marine environment, geographic trends and patterns are poorly known. We evaluated the latitudinal variation in species richness of marine planktonic copepods in the Eastern Pacific using spatial statistical models and approaches that mitigate and account for biases in occurrence data. A Boosted Regression Tree (BRT) and regression-Kriging based models allowed us to estimate and predict alpha diversity in poorly sampled regions, whereas beta diversity patterns were assessed using generalized dissimilarity analysis (GDM). Species richness showed a bimodal pattern, with a maximum of 291 species in the Northern Hemisphere and Tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean. Particulate Organic Carbon, salinity (max), spatial autocovariate, range of salinity and temperature, and Mixed Layer Depth, explained 85.2% of the latitudinal variability of copepods. Beta diversity was structured into four macrozones associated with the main water masses of the North and South Pacific.Our analytical approaches can overcome the limitations of data gaps, predicting greater diversity in subtropical and coastal areas, while providing insights into key drivers modulating spatial diversity patterns.

Basin-scale patterns of biodiversity for zooplankton in the ocean may provide valuable insights for understanding the impact of climate change and global warming on the marine ecosystem. However, studies on this topic remain scarce or unavailable in vast regions of the world ocean, particularly in large regions where the amount and quality of available data are limited. In this study, we used a 27-year (1993-2019) database on species occurrence of planktonic copepods in the South Pacific, along with associated oceanographic variables, to examine their spatial patterns of biodiversity in the upper 200 m of the ocean. The aim of this study was to identify ecological regions and the environmental predictors explaining such patterns. It was found that hot and cold spots of diversity, and distinctive species assemblages were linked to major ocean currents and large regions over the basin, with increasing species richness over the subtropical areas on the East and West sides of the South Pacific. While applying the spatial models, we showed that the best environmental predictors for diversity and species composition were temperature, salinity, chlorophyll-a concentration, oxygen concentration, and the residual autocorrelation. Nonetheless, the observed spatial patterns and derived environmental effects were found to be strongly influenced by sampling coverage over space and time, revealing a highly under-sampled basin. Our findings provide an assessment of copepods diversity patterns and their potential drivers for the South Pacific Ocean, but they also stress the need for strengthening the data bases of planktonic organisms, as they can act as suitable indicators of ecosystem response to climate change at basin scale.

The diversity of parasite communities is mainly driven by evolutionary history, as well as the ecology of the host species. To test whether the diversity of the parasite community of four related Stromateidae (Pisces: Scombriformes) is related to evolutionary history (the host phylogeny) or the host’s geographical distribution, we analyzed the metazoan parasite fauna of four species of fishes of this family, from the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of South America. Studied species were Peprilus snyderi (samples from Callao, Perú, and Antofagasta, Chile), Peprilus medius (Chorrillos, Perú), Peprilus paru (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Stromateus stellatus (Talcahuano, Chile). Our multivariate analysis strongly suggests that the diversity of the parasite fauna of the studied fishes is driven mainly by the host’s geographical distribution and not the host phylogeny.

The environmental regulation of planktonic food web structure is a key determinant for the efficiency of energy transfer through trophic levels, with direct implications for the amount of energy that is available to top-consumers and deep-sea communities. Yet, the complex trophic interplay between the different components of plankton communities under contrasting environmental conditions remains unresolved. Here, we present a comprehensive field study based on compound-specific isotope analysis of amino acids that aims to explore depth-resolved changes in the trophic strategies of various size-classes of mesozooplankton from distinct habitats across the Southeast Pacific. According to the δ15N values of the so-called source amino acids such as phenylalanine, we first identified a clear shift in nitrogen sources for biological production, from nitrate in the productive upwelling waters of the Humboldt Current System to increased inputs of diazotroph-N within the ultra-oligotrophic South Pacific gyre. These shifts in the productivity and in the source of N at the base of the food web were not accompanied by significant changes in the trophic position (TP) of mesozooplankton, which were mainly omnivores (TP = 2.8 ± 0.3, n = 65) in all ecoregions. However, although the planktonic food web length remained relatively unaltered along the productivity gradient, the microbial contribution to mid-trophic level consumers appeared to be more important at relatively high productivities, likely due to more intense remineralization processes in a late successional stage of the upwelling throughout the coastal-transition zone. Altogether, this research work will contribute to a better understanding of the food web functioning in one of the least explored marine regions of the world’s oceans.

This paper focuses on the calibration of heat source parameters to reproduce temperatures and distortions in welded joints. Specifically, the proposed methodology, which combines the Finite Element Method and Design of Experiments, is applied to calibrate a T-joint dissimilar titanium laser welding process. The thermal problem is addressed using a 3D transient model with a Conical Gaussian heat flux, and the mechanical problem is tackled using a 3D elastic-plastic model. A Fractional-Factorial Design is performed to define a set of thermo-mechanical uncoupled models. Finally, optimal parameter combinations that replicate experimental data are identified. This methodology allows automation that replaces the traditional trial and error process, which frequently does not provide good results, is an exhausting task and requires a dubious amount of time.

Abstract Background Parasites of deep-sea fishes from the South-East Pacific (SPO) are poorly known. Of c.1030 species of fish found in this area, 100–150 inhabit the deep-sea (deeper than 200 m). Only six articles concerning metazoan parasites of fish from deep-waters of SOP are known, and nine monogenean species have been reported. Currently, ten species are known in Acanthocotyle Monticelli, 1888 (Monogenea) and when stated, all of them are found in shallow waters (10–100 m). Acanthocotyle gurgesiella Ñacari, Sepulveda, Escribano & Oliva, 2018 is the only known species parasitizing deep-sea skates (350–450 m) in the SPO. The aim of this study was the description of two new species of Acanthocotyle from two Rajiformes. Methods In September 2017, we examined specimens of two species of deep-sea skates (Rajiformes), Amblyraja frerichsi (Krefft) and Bathyraja peruana McEachran & Myyake, caught at c.1500 m depth off Tocopilla, northern Chile, as a by-catch of the Patagonian tooth fish Dissostichus eleginoides Smitt fishery. Specimens of Acanthocotyle were collected from the skin of the skates. Morphometric (including multivariate analysis of proportional measurements, standardized by total length), morphological and molecular analyses (LSU rRNA and cox1 genes) were performed in order to identify the collected specimens. Results The three approaches used in this study strongly suggest the presence of two new species in the genus Acanthocotyle: Acanthocotyle imo n. sp. and Acanthocotyle atacamensis n. sp. parasitizing the skin of the thickbody skate Amblyraja frerichsi and the Peruvian skate Bathyraja peruana, respectively. The main morphological differences from the closely related species Acanthocotyle verrilli Goto, 1899 include the number of radial rows of sclerites, the non-discrete vitelline follicles and the number of testes. Conclusions The two species of monogeneans described here are the only recorded parasites from their respective host species in the SPO. Assessing host specificity for members of Acanthocotyle requires clarifying the systematics of Rajiformes.

Ocean boundary current systems are key components of the climate system, are home to highly productive ecosystems, and have numerous societal impacts. Establishment of a global network of boundary current observing systems is a critical part of ongoing development of the Global Ocean Observing System. The characteristics of boundary current systems are reviewed, focusing on scientific and societal motivations for sustained observing. Techniques currently used to observe boundary current systems are reviewed, followed by a census of the current state of boundary current observing systems globally. The next steps in the development of boundary current observing systems are considered, leading to several specific recommendations.

Climate change is expected to exacerbate upwelling intensity and natural acidification in Eastern Boundaries Upwelling Systems (EBUS). Conducted between January-September 2015 in a nearshore site of the northern Humboldt Current System directly exposed to year-round upwelling episodes, this study was aimed at assessing the relationship between upwelling mediated pH-changes and functional traits of the numerically dominant planktonic copepod-grazer Acartia tonsa (Copepoda). Environmental temperature, salinity, oxygen, pH, alkalinity, chlorophyll-a (Chl), copepod adult size, egg production (EP), and egg size and growth were assessed through 28 random oceanographic surveys. Agglomerative clustering and multidimensional scaling identified three main di-similitude nodes within temporal variability of abiotic and biotic variables: A) "upwelling", B) "non-upwelling", and C) "warm-acid" conditions. Nodes A and B represented typical features within the upwelling phenology, characterized by the transition from low temperature, oxygen, pH and Chl during upwelling to higher levels during non-upwelling conditions. However, well-oxygenated, saline and "warm-acid" node C seemed to be atypical for local climatology, suggesting the occurrence of a low frequency oceanographic perturbation. Multivariate (LDA and ANCOVA) analyses revealed upwelling through temperature, oxygen and pH were the main factors affecting variations in adult size and EP, and highlighted growth rates were significantly lower under node C. Likely buffering upwelling pH-reductions, phytoplankton biomass maintained copepod reproduction despite prevailing low temperature, oxygen and pH levels in the upwelling setting. Helping to better explain why this species is among the most recurrent ones in these variable yet productive upwelling areas, current findings also provide opportune cues on plankton responses under warm-acid conditions, which are expected to occur in productive EBUS as a consequence of climate perturbations.

Atmosphere-ocean interactions are particularly strong along the Chile-Peru coast and largely account for the extreme aridity of the Atacama Desert. Near the center of the driest part of this coastal desert, we found that the embayment Bahía Mejillones constitutes an unusually favorable setting for the formation and subsequent preservation of a sedimentary record of the successive oceanographic conditions of the last few thousand years. This work deals with relative abundance of various bio-indicators, including fish scales, foraminifers and phytoplankton, with a centimetre-scale resolution, in several gravity cores taken from 80 to 120 m depth, in a low-oxygen environment. We use this information to document ocean-climate changes at decadal to centennial time scales in the region. Radiocarbon dating on the bulk organic-rich sediment provides the chronological framework for the observed paleoceanographic changes. We interpret that an episode of relatively warmer water, with a stratified water column and enhanced anoxic (< 0.1 ml l-1O2) conditions at the bottom of the bay, might correlate with the Warm Medieval Interval (11th-15th centuries) of the northern hemisphere. A younger episode, characterised by cooler water, richer in planktonic foraminifers and anchovy remains, with dysoxic (0.1 to 0.3 ml l-1O2) or suboxic (> 0.3 ml l-1 O2) conditions at the bottom of the water column, may correspond to the Little Ice Age (16th to mid-19th centuries). During the first millennium of our era, two thin sedimentary layers which present similarities with the bed assigned to the warm episode are interpreted as possible remnants of very strong, or " mega " El Niño events. The study confirms that Bahía Mejillones sediments did record ocean-climate changes with a very high time-resolution, and thus deserve a closer attention to investigate the ocean-atmosphere interactions over the last few thousand yearsLas interacciones océano-atmósfera son particularmente fuertes a lo largo de la costa de Chile y Perú y explican en gran parte la extrema aridez del desierto de Atacama. Cerca del sector más seco del desierto costero, hemos encontrado que la bahía semi-cerrada de Bahía Mejillones constituye un sitio particularmente favorable para la formación y subsecuente preservación de registros sedimentarios de las condiciones oceanográficas sucesivas de los últimos miles de años. Este estudio analiza la abundancia relativa de varios bioindicadores, incluyendo escamas de peces, foraminíferos y fitoplancton, con una resolución de un centímetro, en muestras de testigos de gravedad obtenidas desde los 80 a 120 m de profundidad, en un ambiente muy pobre en oxígeno. Luego, se utiliza esta información para documentar cambios océano-climáticos en escalas decenales a seculares en la región. Fechamientos por radiocarbono, realizados sobre el componente orgánico del sedimento, proveen el marco cronológico para los cambios paleoceanográficos observados. Interpretamos que un episodio caracterizado por temperaturas relativamente cálidas, con una columna de agua estratificada y condiciones reforzadas de anoxia (< 0,1 ml l-1O2) en el fondo de la bahía, podría ser coetáneo con el Intervalo Cálido Medieval (siglos XI-XV) del hemisferio norte. Un episodio más reciente, caracterizado por aguas frías, rico en foraminíferos planctónicos y remanentes de anchoveta, con condiciones disóxicas (0,1 to 0,3 ml l-1O2) o subóxicas (> 0,3 ml l-1 O2) en la base de la columna de agua, podría corresponder a la "Pequeña Edad del Hielo" (siglo XVI a mediados del s. XIX). Durante el primer milenio de nuestra era, dos delgadas capas sedimentarias que presentan similitudes con la capa atribuída al episodio cálido son interpretadas como manifestaciones probables de eventos El Niño de intensidad muy fuerte (o "mega" El Niño). El estudio confirma que los sedimentos de Bahía Mejillones registraron efectivamente cambios oceano-climáticos con una resolución temporal muy alta, y en consecuencia, ameritan una mayor atención para investigar las interacciones atmósfera-océano durante los últimos miles de años

Gas metal arc welding (GMAW) is a joining process that is controlled by several inputs or welding parameters. However, speed, current and voltage are the parameters that are most frequently used in setting this process. Cord area, yield stress, tensile strength, residual stresses, hardness and roughness are considered to be outputs or welded joints parameters. They are widely used when the design requirements are based on the cost, manufacturing speed, strength and surface finish. This paper seeks to determine the relationship between the welding parameters and the welded joint parameters of speed, current and voltage in butt joints (X-groove) of EN 235JR by the response surface method (RSM). The optimal joints when considering the design requirements of cost, manufacturing speed, strength and surface finish were achieved by using the multi-response surface (MRS). The optimal welding parameters reached when considering the design requirements of cost were 140.593 amps, 8.192 mm/s and 29.999 volts, respectively, whereas the design requirements of manufacturing speed were 149.88 amps, 9.261 mm/s and 29.999 volts. Finally, the welding parameters for the design requirements of joint strength and surface finish were 149.086 amps, 7.139 mm/s and 28.541 volts and 150.372 amps, 8.561 mm/s and 29.877 volts, respectively.

The kinematic behavior of models that are based on the finite element method (FEM) for modeling the human body depends greatly on an accurate estimate of the parameters that define such models. This task is complex, and any small difference between the actual biomaterial model and the simulation model based on FEM can be amplified enormously in the presence of nonlinearities. The current paper attempts to demonstrate how a combination of the FEM and the MRS methods with desirability functions can be used to obtain the material parameters that are most appropriate for use in defining the behavior of Finite Element (FE) models of the healthy human lumbar intervertebral disc (IVD). The FE model parameters were adjusted on the basis of experimental data from selected standard tests (compression, flexion, extension, shear, lateral bending, and torsion) and were developed as follows: First, three-dimensional parameterized FE models were generated on the basis of the mentioned standard tests. Then, 11 parameters were selected to define the proposed parameterized FE models. For each of the standard tests, regression models were generated using MRS to model the six stiffness and nine bulges of the healthy IVD models that were created by changing the parameters of the FE models. The optimal combination of the 11 parameters was based on three different adjustment criteria. The latter, in turn, were based on the combination of stiffness and bulges that were obtained from the standard test FE simulations. The first adjustment criteria considered stiffness and bulges to be equally important in the adjustment of FE model parameters. The second adjustment criteria considered stiffness as most important, whereas the third considered the bulges to be most important. The proposed adjustment methods were applied to a medium-sized human IVD that corresponded to the L3-L4 lumbar level with standard dimensions of width = 50 mm, depth = 35 mm, and height = 10 mm. Agreement between the kinematic behavior that was obtained with the optimized parameters and that obtained from the literature demonstrated that the proposed method is a powerful tool with which to adjust healthy IVD FE models when there are many parameters, stiffnesses, and bulges to which the models must adjust.